The Stranger
OPAL
Aunt Janice dabs at the corner of my lips to get a tiny smudge of lipstick off. Then, she steps back, admiring her work. "You look beautiful, Opal. Look."
She gestures at the mirror next to us, and I swivel around in the chair and stare at my reflection. My eyes widen imperceptibly. I've done my makeup before, but never like this. I look different. My makeup is usually on the lighter side, but this one is heavy. A smoky eye and red lipstick the color of blood.
She brushes my dark hair away from my face, then presses the side of her face against mine. "Do you see how lovely you look, my baby? See the woman you are? Any man would be lucky to have you, Alpha Prince or not."
Her words make me emotional and lift me up in ways I can't explain. "Thank you, Aunt Janice."
Her expression softens further, and as she runs her fingers through my dark curls, she says, "I wish things had been different for you, but bear in mind that the goddess never gives us a load too heavy for us to carry. You're strong. You take after your mother."
My mother. I can barely remember her. She died when I was very young—only four years old. My father raised me on his own. He never remarried. Aunt Janice stepped in, so I consider her a mother. She's the only mother I know, anyway.
"Here," she says, pressing a glass vial into my hand. "Take this afterward, when you're both done. It's to stop you from getting pregnant."
I nod and say in a low voice, "Thank you."
"We'll head downstairs before you leave because your father wants to have a word with you," she claims. "But you look stunning, my doll."
She presses a kiss to my cheek, and I kiss her back. Then, we head downstairs. I can't begin to imagine what my father wants to say to me. After our talk yesterday, things between us have been very tense, and I don't think that I'll ever forgive him for putting me through this. For using me in such a careless way.
Dad is standing in the dining room, holding a glass of whiskey. He looks strangely casual, and I've never seen him look this way before. His hair is disheveled, and the sleeves of his shirt are rolled up. When he hears us approaching, he smiles broadly and waves us over.
Does he look a little drunk?
"There's my girl," he says, putting the glass down on the table and opening his arms. "You look like a queen, Opal. The queen I always knew you'd be."
I don't say anything, nor do I offer him a smile.
"I have news," he says, not missing a beat. It seems my sour mood isn't contagious, at least not to him. "Tonight, there'll be a small meet and greet with the Alpha Prince. That way, you'll be able to meet him before the wedding tomorrow."
My throat dries up, and I suppress the urge to glance at Aunt Janice. "What? What time?"
"The meeting will only be around midnight because he has some things to do. He's a busy man, you know?" he claims as he glances at his watch. "That leaves us four hours. It's a good thing you're ready. Did I mention this earlier?"
"No," I whisper before glancing at Aunt Janice.
She raises a hand, urging me to stay calm. She then moves closer to my father and asks, "And who will be attending this meet and greet?"
"The Alpha Prince, his brother, and sister. His mother. It's a very intimate event."
"The Alpha Prince has a brother?" I ask.
"And a sister," Dad states, his grin still broad. "His brother is also called Alpha Prince, but only one of them will be king. He has a family. See? He's not as bad as you think. This will be my first time meeting him, too."
"You've never met him?" Aunt Janice asks.
"Of course not," he retorts. "To meet him is the highest honor. But I believe that, soon, we'll be intimate with each other. We'll be a part of the same family, after all."
"Carl," my aunt begins, forcing a smile, "I planned on taking Opal to my place for a few hours. I have a few things to give her before the wedding tomorrow. We'll be back before midnight."
Dad glances at his watch and I think he'll say no, but he surprises me by saying, "You better hurry. We can't be late to that event. I don't think I have to tell you both how important it is."
Aunt Janice reaches for my arm. "No, you don't have to. We'll be here on time. Come, Opal. We have to be quick."
We make it outside, and I release the breath I've been holding for a few lengthy seconds now. "I can't believe this. He ruined everything!"
"Not quite. You were going to spend only two hours with him. I'll have to call them to see if he can make it earlier. I don't see why not. Come, we'll head out now. I'll drop you off at the hotel, and then I'll let you know what he says. I'll call you before he arrives so you'll know."
"How do I know what he'll look like?"
"The description they gave me was that he had dark hair and eyes, and he's tall. There's no picture. They like to keep these things confidential. Males can have their brothels and whorehouses but we have to keep our business a secret or they'll do what they can to bring an end to it. Don't worry. It'll all work out."
I breathe out, relaxing and putting my trust in her. Then, I stare out the window as we drive to the hotel. It's a twenty-minute drive. We chose a hotel not too close to home. Many alphas rule in this territory, though, so it would be difficult for me to be recognized.
I could be anyone. Not a lot of people know my face. Of course, that'll end when I marry the Alpha Prince. I just have to hope that I don't come across someone I know.
"The room has already been booked," Aunt Janice says as she hands me a keycard. "You go in and wait. Like I said, I'll call you."
"Okay," I say breathlessly. A beat passes in silence, and I add, "Thank you. Aunt Janice. For everything you've done for me."
She holds my chin between her fingers, then smiles. "Of course. You're my sweet, darling girl. My only child. Don't worry about a thing, okay? Just have fun. Relax. You deserve it."
I nod before getting out of the car. She speeds away only when I enter the hotel. The lobby isn't crowded, but there are some people walking around. I keep my head low and head straight to the elevator. I'm alone inside it, thankfully. That grants me some time to think about how things will progress.
In a few hours, I'll lose my virginity. To me, that's a big deal. I'd meant to save it for when I found my fated mate, but that might not happen, and anyway, I doubt I'd be the Alpha Prince's mate.
It's just very unlikely, isn't it?
I reach my floor, then head straight to my room. I lock myself, waiting for my phone to ring. We were meant to meet in an hour, but now, it'll have to be earlier.
I hope it works out.
I'll be devastated if it doesn't.
About half an hour passes. No phone call. I start pacing the room, too nervous to sit still. Then, I hear voices outside my door. One voice in particular. I don't know why, but I get closer to the door and peer out of the peephole. I see a man, though his back is facing me. His hair is dark, and he's tall. He's wearing a black leather jacket, and he has a phone pressed to his ear.
He seems to be looking for a room.
I open the door, pulling it open. The sound probably surprises him, because he whirls around quickly. Yep, dark eyes. It's him.
"Hi," I say breathlessly.
He stares at me for a few beats before he ends his call and slides his phone into the pocket of his jeans. "Hi," he says.
I feel very nervous suddenly, and don't know what to say. I've never done anything like this before. He's staring at me with a blank face, too. I gesture toward the room. "Do you want to come inside?"
He seems to hesitate for a few moments before he mutters, "Sure."
Once he's inside my room, I close the door, sealing us away from the outside world.